Ronald M. Jacobs

Ron Jacobs focuses his practice on political law, nonprofit organizations, and crisis management, including congressional investigations, class actions, and regulatory investigations. Ron founded and co-chairs the firm's nationally recognized Political Law practice. He advises clients on all aspects of state and federal political law, including campaign finance, lobbying disclosure, gift and ethics rules, pay-to-play laws, and tax implications of political activities.

Ron's clients – which include large and small companies, trade associations, charities, campaigns, super PACs, ideological groups, individuals, and political vendors – recognize his ability to help them achieve their political objectives and navigate the minefield of the often contradictory rules that apply. He has developed political compliance programs for Fortune 500 companies, leading trade associations, and other clients that lobby and make political contributions nationwide.

Ron serves as outside general counsel to a number of nonprofit organizations and trade associations, and guides them on tax exemption, corporate governance, international operations, and other complex issues. He helps clients create new entities, deal with leadership changes, merge with other organizations, negotiate major contracts, and oversees litigation.

Ron also assists clients who are facing crisis events. His work includes responding to government investigations and enforcement actions, congressional investigations, media relations, class action lawsuits, and other high-profile problems that involve potentially damaging legal and public relations matters. His clients appreciate his steady hand, ability to devise a plan, and candor in helping the client maintain a focus on solving the problem at hand. He uses his institutional knowledge of the firm and its practitioners to bring together the right team of litigators, lobbyists, and other attorneys to handle a problem. Whether a difficult situation involves political or nonprofit law, Ron offers practical advice that considers not only legal requirements, but also reputational risk. Ron's clients appreciate his responsiveness and ability to provide candid advice to achieve their business objectives.

Related Industries

Experience

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Government Experience

Field Representative, United States House of Representatives, Office of Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH)

Representative Matters

Serving as general counsel to a successful United States Senate candidate and the ongoing political operation between elections

Guiding trade associations, companies, and a social welfare organization through complex congressional investigations

Creating super PACs active in federal, state, and local elections

Obtaining favorable decisions from the House and Senate Ethics Committees that have allowed clients to conduct high-profile events in compliance with gift rules

Assisting a charitable organization through a complex multinational reorganization process and governance redesign

Working with stakeholders to develop an industry system to provide greater transparency and reduce foreign influence in online digital political ads and convincing regulators to adopt that system in their regulations

Submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Indiana Supreme Court on behalf of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance discussing truck safety and regulations

Submitting an amicus curiae brief to the Oregon Supreme Court on behalf of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards dealing with interstate reciprocity of architectural licenses and the unauthorized practice of architecture